Ousmane Dembele has claimed his first Ballon d’Or after a spectacular season in which Paris Saint-Germain swept nearly every major trophy on offer.
The 28-year-old forward delivered 35 goals and 14 assists across 53 appearances last season, driving PSG to a historic treble of the Champions League, Ligue 1 title, and French Cup. His scoring tally made him joint top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals, while he was also named player of the year in both the French league and the Champions League.
Dembele’s contributions extended beyond Europe. He played a key role in PSG’s run to the Club World Cup final, though they fell to Chelsea in New Jersey.
At the ceremony in Paris, the Frenchman held back tears as he accepted the award, edging out Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, BBC reported. Despite PSG being in action on the same night, Dembele was able to attend since he is currently sidelined by injury. He missed his team’s rearranged 1-0 defeat against Marseille.
“What I have just experienced is exceptional, I have no words for it, what happened with PSG,” Dembele said emotionally on stage, joined by his mother.
“I feel a bit of stress, it’s not easy to win this trophy, and to have it presented to me by Ronaldinho, a legend of football, is exceptional.
“I want to thank PSG who came to get me in 2023. It’s an incredible family. The president Nasser [Al-Khelaifi] is like a father to me. I also want to thank all the staff and the coach, who have been exceptional with me – he too is like a father – and all my team-mates.
“We have practically won everything together. You supported me in the good and the difficult times. This individual trophy is one the team has won collectively.”
The accolade completes a remarkable comeback for Dembele, who had not reached double figures in a league season since his teenage days at Rennes. A tactical shift by PSG manager Luis Enrique proved decisive: in December, he moved Dembele from the wing to centre-forward. At the time, Dembele had only five goals; he went on to add 30 more before the season ended.
Enrique’s efforts were also recognised as he was named coach of the year, while PSG themselves collected the team of the year award. Five of their players ranked in the Ballon d’Or top 10, including Vitinha (third), Achraf Hakimi (sixth), Gianluigi Donnarumma (ninth), and Nuno Mendes (10th).
Yamal, just 18, finished second and picked up the Kopa Trophy for best young player. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah came in fourth, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer placed eighth, while last year’s winner Rodri missed the shortlist altogether following an injury-riddled campaign.
Dembele is now the sixth French player to lift the Ballon d’Or, and only the second of this century after Karim Benzema in 2022. PSG, who signed him for £43.5m in 2023, appear to have secured one of the greatest bargains in modern football, finally unlocking the promise that once made Barcelona pay over £96m to lure him from Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
